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ARMENIA – GEORGIA TOUR

10 Days/09 Nights

Discover the ancient lands of Armenia and Georgia with a guided tour. Explore the stunning landscapes and rich cultural heritage during the Armenia-Georgia tour.

Day 01: FLIGHT TO YEREVAN

Arrival in Yerevan. Transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Use your free time to visit the Vernissage Market in the City Centre – an arts and crafts open-air bazaar that opens only at weekends. You will find here different souvenirs, pictures, sculptures, traditional carpets and rugs, and so on. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 02: YEREVAN CITY TOUR

Breakfast at the hotel.
Yerevan is one of the most ancient cities in the world founded in 782 B.C..
Now Yerevan is a vibrant and modern European city with much to offer.

Did you know that Yerevan is considered to be the oldest operating capital in the world, older than Rome and Nineveh? It celebrated its 2800th anniversary in 2018.

Matenadaran

In the morning you visit the Matenadaran (UNESCO World’s Documentary Heritage) – Depository of Ancient Manuscripts and a serious Institute of Scientific Research on Ancient Manuscripts.

The collection of approximately 17,000 manuscripts includes almost every sphere of Armenian ancient and medieval science and culture – history, geography, philosophy, law, medicine, mathematics, miniature, and others. There are manuscripts in Arabic, Persian, Greek, Syrian, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, Japanese, etc. Afterward, you can see the most beautiful panorama of Yerevan City and the biblical Mount Ararat from the top of the huge Cascade Monument. Cascade is just a masterpiece in terms of architecture and is decorated in a very stunning way. Inside this monument, you find the Cafesdjian Art Center. There are a lot of original statues of modern art. Not far from Cascade, you see the Mother Armenia Statue, which symbolizes “peace through strength”. Having its location on a hill overlooking Yerevan City makes her “The Guardian “of the Armenian Capital.

City Tour

During your City tour, you pass through Northern Avenue which connects the two Yerevan Famous Squares – The Republic Square and the France Square (where the Opera House with the original statue of Rodin is located). The Republic Square in Armenia with the governmental buildings is considered to be one of the most beautiful squares in the world. At night, the square is especially beautiful because of the “Dancing Fountains” accompanied by classic music of world-known Armenian components.

Street tour including Yerevan State University and the Island of universities, Victory Bridge, Tsitsernakaberd Hill (The Swallow Castle) with Genocide Museum, Sports & Concerts complex, Kyiv Bridge, Parliament, Residence of President, Academy of Sciences.Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 03: YEREVAN – KHOR VIRAP – NORAVANK – ARENI WINE VILLAGE – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
A fantastic tour dedicated to the exploration of Southern Armenia combining the magic of Armenia’s finest medieval architecture with stunning landscapes by driving through the agricultural heart of Armenia. Our first stop will be at the Khor Virap Monastery – the most important place of pilgrimage in Armenia. St. Gregory the Illuminator – the first Catholic of all Armenians, had been a prisoner in “Khor Virap” (deep dungeon) for 13 years. From here you get a unique view of the holy Armenian mountain Ararat (5165m.), on which (according to the Bible) Noah’s ark landed after the World flood.
As soon as we pass the Ararat Plain we can experience the untamed beauty of Southern Armenia – surreal red rocks providing an eerie echo, and honey-colored villages sandwiched between them. Continue to the previous residence of Syunik’s bishops – Noravank monastery, nestled at the edge of the narrow gorge in the impressive mountainous landscape with peculiar red hanging rocks. The structure stands out thanks to a unique harmony of architectural forms and decorations.
On the way back to Yerevan visit the winery in the village Areni, wine tasting made from the endemic grapes. Return to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 04: YEREVAN – ECHMIADZIN – ZVARTNOTS – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
This tour includes UNESCO World Heritage Sites are “must-see” places. Today you visit the religious center of Armenia – Echmiadzin which is the “Vatican” city of Armenia with the Holy See of the Armenian Apostolic Church where the Supreme Patriarch (Catholicos) of All Armenians resides. Armenia is the first Christian country in the world since 301 A.D. and the world’s oldest official Christian church is in Echmiadzin – the Mother Cathedral of Echmiadzin. In the cathedral, you can attend live the liturgy.

Did you know that the Mountains of Ararat is the place named in the Book of Genesis (Bible) where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the great flood

Continue to St. Hripsime church (7th century), a true masterpiece of early medieval Armenian architecture. On the way back to Yerevan visit the Ruins of Zvartnots Cathedral – the place of “celestial angels”. The remnants of Zvartnots, even in ruins, are a majestic sight. his marvelous temple is a result of the skillfulness and brave creativity of Armenian architects of the 7th century. Having been built on several columns it could survive only till the 10th century.

When researchers started the excavations at the beginning of the 20th century, many specialists could hardly accept its reconstruction model designed by famous Armenian architect Toros Toramanyan. It was difficult to believe that such a huge and complicated construction could have been built those days, and amazingly at that time one of the bas-relieves of St. Chapelle church in Paris came to prove Toramanyan’s version; the bas-relief depicts Zvartnots temple with Noah’s Ark and it looks like the model represented by the architect. Return to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 05: YEREVAN – GARNI – GEGHARD – YEREVAN

Breakfast at the hotel.
Just outside of Armenia’s capital, a quiet mountain road leads high above the city, offering a glimpse into Earth’s ancient history. Firstly we stop at Charent’s Arch – the breathtaking lookout point of the biblical Mount Ararat (known from the Bible as the landing place of Noah’s Ark). Drive to the Geghard Monastery carved out of a huge monolithic rock. Geghard is an incredible ancient Armenian monastery, partly carved out of a mountain.

It is said that the Holy Lance that pierced the body of Christ was kept here. The architectural forms and the decoration of Geghard’s rock premises show that Armenian builders could not only create superb works of architecture out of stone but also hew them in solid rock. It is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Continue to the Garni Pagan Temple, the only Hellenistic temple in the Caucasus. Gracing the hillside the temple was dedicated to the God of the Sun, Mithra, and comprises also royal palace ruins, and Roman Baths with a well-preserved mosaic.
Master class of traditional Armenian bread “lavash” being baked in tonir (ground oven). The preparation, meaning, and appearance of traditional bread as an expression of culture in Armenia is on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Drive back to Yerevan. Evening free. Overnight in Yerevan.

Day 06: YEREVAN – LAKE SEVAN – DILIJAN – SADAKHLO (Border) – TBILISI

Breakfast at the hotel.
Tour to Lake Sevan – the 2nd largest fresh-water high-altitude lake in the world after Titicaca (Los Andes, Bolivia) and the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus Region. Lake Sevan, this wonder of nature, is the pearl of incomparable beauty with stunning turquoise waters which is also home to unique bird species On the picturesque peninsula you visit the Sevanavank monastery (9c), which once used to serve as a place of exile of the Armenian nobility. Here you find unique cross-stones (khachqar). The Cross-Stone is a typical manifestation of the Armenian culture, as other nations do not have this type of culture, and is already a UNESCO World Heritage.
Proceed to the Dilijan SPA town in the Dilijan National Park. It is a protected area with serene lakes, picturesque hill trails, and peaceful villages. Many poets used to say, “If there are woods, mountains, streams, and mineral waters in paradise, it must be like Dilijan”. Due to its forested mountains and mild climate, they often call Dilijan “Armenia’s Little Switzerland”.
On the most beautiful and oldest streets of the Old Dilijan – Sharambeyanyou will find small art schools and souvenir shops. Continue to Haghartsin Monastery (10.-14. cc.), a fairy-tale monastery set amidst flower-filled.
Drive to the Armenia – Georgia border. After passport and customs formalities – proceed to Tbilisi.
Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 07: TBILISI CITY TOUR

Breakfast at the hotel.
Tbilisi city tour. Walking tour in the famous Sulfuric Baths district, (Abanotubani) and Legvtakhevi Waterfall, visit Metekhi church (12th Century) and Narikala fortress, (4th Century) panoramic view of the city from the hill where located monument mother of Georgia. (Kartlis Deda) Visit the National Museum of Georgia and the main avenue, Rustaveli. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 08: TBILISI – KAKHETI REGION – TBILISI

Breakfast at the hotel.
Tour to Kakheti. Kakheti is located in the Eastern part of Georgia and it is known as the region of wine. Unique and award-winning Georgian wines and brandies are produced here. The earliest archaeological evidence of wine production yet found has been at sites in Georgia in 6000 C. BC. Visit the Monastery of St. Nino at Bodbe,(6th Century) and Sighnaghi, city of the love. After Sighnaghi we will stop at the local family, for a wine tour, in Gujaani town. Visit a local family winery, degustation of family, red and white wines, produced with Georgian KVEVRI traditions and homemade vodka CHACHA. Continue our way to the Gremi monastery complex (16th Century) and Lord Alexander Chavchavadze’s palace in Tsinandali village. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 09: TBILISI – MCKHETA – KAZBEGI – TBILISI

Breakfast at the hotel. We drive to visit the ancient capital and religious center of Georgia Mtskheta (3000 years old) and see its historical places. The tour includes Jvari church (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century) where the Robe of Christ is buried. Both Jvari and Svetitskhoveli are UNESCO World Heritage sites. On the way visit the Ananuri architectural complex (17th century). The two churches and the fortress overlook the Zhinvali water reservoir. Arrival in Kazbegi town, jeep tour to Gergeti Trinity Church (13th Century) located at 2175m. Walking tour to visit Gveleti waterfalls. Drive back to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi.

Day 10: TBILISI – GORI – UFLISCIKHE – TBILISI

Breakfast at the hotel.
After breakfast drive to visit Gori, The city where was born Joseph Stalin. Here we will make a visit to the Museum of Joseph Stalin. Then we go to visit Uplistsikhe (“Lord’s fortress”), an ancient town built on a rock, dating from II ML BC to the Middle Ages. Overnight in Tbilisi.